Love's Journey 2

by Castlefan6

Authors Note This is the continuation of Love's Journey, originally authored by The Muse of Apollo, chapters 1-7 all following are work of Castlefan6' IF you haven't read the original Love's Journey please do so before proceeding with this,

I don't own Castle, I only use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 4

Previously

Kate walks the few blocks back to the precinct smiling, she's going to work on Rick's special project and things couldn't be better between her and Jess, more importantly Rick was happy, truly happy so now she could be as well.

Castles Loft

Later Same Day

Jess makes her way home, after a full day of appointments, still thrilled that Kate was going to add value to her assessment of which property would add the greatest value in the short term. It's just turning from dusk to dark as she enters the lobby and waves at Eduardo, smiling softly as she thinks back to Rick's Chase and that kiss earlier that day, Gosh, one whole year ago today, where did the time go.

The loft is unusually dark as she enters, a bit unusual when Rick was expecting her. Maybe he was in the office working and had lost track of the time, as he "Zones Out", a trait that she had to get accustomed to, when was in the Zone the world could end and he would not hear anything. She even tried a walk-in front of him with the sheerest of night gowns, and normally would have gotten an instant response, but not when he was in the "Zone"

She headed to the office when a note with a single red rose, in a beautiful vase caught her attention on the counter, she walked over and began to read.

Jess, I know you remember, and so do I, one year ago was our first date and the beginning of me starting to live again. I owe it all to you, so please join me on the roof, you remember the code (Alexis) on the key pad in the elevator then hit R for roof, I will be waiting,

Love,

Rick

Her mind goes back to the first time she was there, and he had hung stars for her just in case the night was overcast, that was the start of this beautiful ride she has been on. Romantic could not even describe Rick when he was trying to court her.

She nervously entered the code, then R and the elevator took off and as the doors opened she saw it, once again in little stars spelling out Happy 1st Anniversary to my Love, all with a blinking and twinkling pattern with Love shooting off little illuminations when the word completed spelling.

Rick stepped out of the shadow and whispered "Happy First Anniversary Jess, best year of my life without a doubt" as he took her into his arms, slow, sweet, and deliberate kisses working up and down both sides of her neck, and lips intermittently.

Jess is a pile of mush by now, trying not to cry, so amazed that Rick had remembered much less gone to this measure to mark the date.

"Bet you say that to all the girls you get up here" she smiles as she barely gets the words out before she just can't help but kiss him, over and over with each one showing the love she feels deep in her soul.

"No other girls Jess, this is ours, and ours alone, not that you would be jealous, but this is almost sacred to me, the first kiss, the first explosion in my heart, and the first time I even dared that I might be happy someday".

"Thank You Rick, I know this can't begin to compare to your gift, but I wanted you to know I remembered, even when I thought you didn't, this was the start of my life too." She reaches over and hands him a small package.

Rick looks truly touched, eyes pool full of tears, as he opens the package so slowly, it's a beautiful man's necklace with a gold medal attached that reads, "You are Mine, I am Yours, Now and Forever" in beautiful script lettering around the circumference of the medal with two hearts interchanged in the middle and the date on the opposite side. As much as he tried, tears fell from Rick's eyes,

Jess reaches up to cup his face and asks tenderly, "It's not too much is it Rick, I mean you've got to know by now I would die for you"

"No Angel, it's not too much, it's just that no one has ever cared enough to hand design a present that meant so much, how long did you work on this?

" Well however long it was it was worth it if you love it, you have no idea how hard it is to shop for you, especially if it is something meaningful and personal. I didn't want to come off like a desperate old maid, but I did want you to know, I started living again one year ago today, I love you Rick, more than you will ever know" as she seals it with a sweet kiss."

The kisses progress for a while, not the hot passion preceding a session of lovemaking, but tender, sweet, and reassurance of love promised to each other.

"Rick, I really don't want to go anywhere tonight except to our room, I hope I'm not spoiling any plans," she whispers

"Let's go back to the loft he softly says, don't worry about anything here, it's taken care of." They hold on tight to each other all the way to the loft, navigating without letting loose of each other, there was so much emotion in the air, and soft gentle kisses as well, initiated by each.

As they open the door Jess notices now that the dining room table has her favorite dishes she ordered on their date, along with two candles lit, wine, and soft lights. She is a bit surprised when out steps two violinists playing one of her favorite songs, as Rick gathers her into a Dance position and begins to slowly dance to You look Wonderful Tonight

It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear
She puts on her make-up and brushes her long blonde hair
And then she asks me, Do I look all right?
And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight

We go to a party and everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady that's walking around with me
And then she asks me, Do you feel all right?
And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight"

I feel wonderful because I see
The love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you

It's time to go home now and I've got an aching head
So I give her the car keys and she helps me to bed
And then I tell her, as I turn out the light
I say, "My darling, you were wonderful tonight
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight

Songwriters: Eric Patrick Clapton

She didn't think it was possible, but she fell in love with him All over again. Leave it to Rick to turn a date most guys don't remember into a demonstration of his love, and with so much care for the little details. The first food she ate, their first song they danced to at the club, and setting such a sweet surprise.

Just as she thought the day was over she reached for her pillow, and under it was a little present, "Rick, what is this, you have spoiled me enough"

"Just a little something I think you'll like, I can take it back if you don't like it"** "Like hell you will" Jess interrupts, as she carefully unwraps the package to find a jewelry box from one of the most prestigious Jewelers in New York, she opens it slowly and starts sobbing, as she pulls out a Crystal Angel, on a Gold Chain with a small band across the angel's waist that said I love You RC, They enjoyed the night into the next morning, marking an anniversary neither was sure to forget.

12th Precinct

7:00 PM Same Day

Kate had waited till the boys and all the brass had cleared out for the day before she started working on Jess's request. It made sense that if someone caught wind of interest by Rick the cost of the property would skyrocket. One of the properties was very appealing, it had been overrun with gangs, and word had it that Vulcan Simmons was using it for a drug running headquarters.

If it was sold to RCE, all the buildings would be razed, ruble cleared, and new housing complete with state-of-the-art security measures would replace the dangerous nooks the homeless were forced to take shelter from. It also was home to twice as many body drops over the last 3 years as the other properties combined.

Kate carefully compiled a case for and against each location, and then made her formal recommendation to RCE in an official email, from a new account she had created,

Kate Beckett, Special Consultant, RCE Enterprises read the signature line, something she was sure Jess would get a kick out of. She saved the email in her draft box, noting the time, almost 10:30 PM and also the Anniversary that she did not want to intrude on in any way. Tomorrow would be soon enough for Jess to get the facts and call her if she needed.

As she shut down her computer, she looked down at Castle's chair, just thinking for a moment of What could have been, If Only? She pushed the thought out of her head and headed for the exit, for a soak in a hot bath and good glass of wine,

A/N Good point to break. We have established Jess and Rick now have been together one year, Kate is having some flashbacks and regrets but overall a great relationship with the couple, Jess has made a point to include Kate into their lives, fearful she will fall on substance abuse as her Father had, Kate continues to hold on to material images of better days, Forever Box, Rick's chair. I love it that so many are guessing how I am going to either get Caskett together or how Kate will end up if Jess becomes part of Jessrick. Thanks for reading, and reviewing, your comments are like fuel to us writers, and are appreciated more than you know. To all those I could not reply to directly, Thank You and please stay with me, we are in for a ride, Tim